Bicycle



. Pat ented May 30, I899.

T. S. DAVIS.

BICYCLE.

(Application filed 1m 31, 1898,) r

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

IZZTHGSSBS. Invemor I MMJM T. s. DAVISQ BICYCLE.

sum, was.

2 Shoets -Sheet 2.

(Application filed (No Model.)

Atto may I U/ waJ a ,1 aJ F L K I s v m ,k e v. t R Q Li W/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS S. DAVIS, OF LANSINGBURG, NEW YORK.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,835, dated May 30, 1899. Application filed January 31, 1898. Serial No. 668,535. No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS S. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing'at Lansingbnrg, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure] is a side elevation of a bicycle made according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of certain parts trated more fully in Fig. 2.

thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail view of certain parts thereof, and Fig. 4. is a plan view of certain other parts thereof.

A is the frame of a cycle, provided at front and rear with the usual Wheels B O and with a saddle-post D, which carries the saddle A, and a bracket B Suitably journaled in the frame A is a transverse pedal-shaft E, upon the extremities of which are the pedals 0. Fast upon this shaft are any desired numberin the drawings fou'r-of spur-gears a b c 61. These gears are of diiferent diameters, as illus- Behind the shaft E and similarly journaled in the frame A is a counter-shaft F, upon the opposite ends of which are cranks D and fast upon which are spur-gears e f g h. These gears are in the same vertical planes as the gears a b c d and have respectively the same diameters as the latter, but in an inverse order, the smaller of the gears a b c at being opposite the larger of the gears efg h, and so on. The gears are thus ranged in pairs, as a e, bf, &c. The wheels of each pair are at the same distance apart,

'this distance being such as to admit to mesh between and with the two gears of a pair the intermediate spur-gear G, sothat this latter, as herein presently further explained, maybe transferred from one pair of the gears to another. The cranks D of the counter-shaft F are arranged at right angles to each other. To the ends of the driving-axle E of the rear wheel B are provided cranks F, of like proportions to the cranks D of the counter-shaft F and like them placed at right angles to each other. Connecting-rods H connect the cranks D with the cranks F. It will be observed that the intermediate gear G being brought into gearing connection with the two gears of any of the several pairs a revoluble movement of the pedals, acting through the described mechanism, communicates a rotating motion to the rear'wheel to propel the vehicle and that by reason of the right-angled arrangement of the cranks all dead-point in the rotation of the said Wheel is avoided.

The bracket B is forked in such a way as to afford support to a fixed or non-revoluble transverse shaft 1. Formed in this shaft 1, above each pair of gears a e, &c., and in the same vertical planes therewith, is a circumferential groove is, and sunken in the bottom of each groove is a countersink or notch m. The fixed transverse shaft I forms the axle and means of support of an eccentric K, upon which is provided a strap L. From this eccentric-strap depends a hanger M, to the lower end of whichis provided the hereinbefore-mentioned intermediate gear G. By operating the eccentric to bring the intermediate out of mesh with thecontiguous gears and then moving the eccentric along the length of the non-revoluble shaft I the intermediate gear may be carried from one to an other of the several pairs of gears, the swing of the hanger upon the eccentric permitting any fore-and-aft movement necessary to the location or relocation of the intermediate gear from one pair of gears to another.-

It is important that when the intermediate gear is brought into gearing relation with the (for the time being) preferred pair of gears it shall be securely retained in such position until its transfer into like relation with another pair is desired and also that such change may be quickly and conveniently made. My invention, therefore, further includes means for attaining these results as follows: The hanger M has two parallel sidles ct, between which at the lower end is the intermediate gear G, hereinbefore described, while the eccentricK is between the upper ends of said parts, the hanger being connect ed with the eccentric-strap L, as before ex .plained. In the eccentric is an internal cavity n and a bore or slot *r', as shown more fully in Fig. 3. In this isplaced a sliding bolt N, which has in it a transverse slot e, room for which is afforded by a lateral lugf', which plays within the cavity a. The end of this bolt is so arranged that when brought coincident with one of the circumferential grooves of the fixed shaft I it will pass into the said groove and when the eccentric is turned upon the shaft traverse along the groove. The arrangement is also such that when the end of the bolt is brought coincident with the recess m of the groove it will pass into the recess, and thereby prevent the further revoluble movement of the eccentric upon the shaft. This inward movement of the bolt on proper occasion is insured by a spring 3, which presses against the lugf of the bolt. hen the bolt is in the position just described, the eccentric and its adjuncts are locked against any movement along the shaft I and also against and with a turning or revoluble movement around or upon the latter, and the intermediate gear G is maintained in the desired relation with the gears with which it meshes below. It is of course to be understood that when the parts are thus locked the eccentric is turned to that position in which the hanger brings the intermediate gearinto mesh or gearing connection with said pair.

The eccentric-strap is fitted upon the lateral edges of the eccentric, as shown at t in Fig. 2, and leaves exposed the sides of the eccentric. Ooincident with theinternal cavity '11 of the eccentric is an opening g, which permits the insertion of a disk U, which lies parallel with the adjacent side of the bolt N and which has an axial stem 10, which extends laterally outward beyond the side of the eccentric. This disk is kept in place by a cap 1', which is secured in place by any suitable means to close the opening g, but which has a suitable orifice through which the stem w may project, as just mentioned. Upon the outer end of the stem is a thumb-piece or leverj, and at the iner surface of the disk o is a crank-pin 70, which extends into the slot 6 of the bolt N. When the bolt is depressed to make fast the eccentric upon the shaft I, the crank-pin 7c is depressed, as shown in Fig. 3. To release the eccentric upon the shaft, the thumb-piece or lever j is operated to turn the disk, and consequently the crank-pin 70', to lift the bolt from the recess m and groove 70. When brought to the position requisite for this, the crank-pin comes into direct opposition to the tension of the spring 8, so that the latter exerts the pressure in line with the crank-pin and the axis of motion of the latter, so that the spring is inoperative to move the crank-pin from its raised position. The eccentric has a radial projection M, which serves as a handle by which the eccentric may be turned upon the shaft I. The eccentric being made loose upon the latter, as described, is first partially revolved to depress the hanger M, and consequently bring the intermediate gear G away from the gears with which it has last been in mesh or gearing contact. This done the eccentric is moved along the shaft I until the intermediate gear is brought into the desired gearing relation with another of the pairs of gears; which done the thumb-piece n is turned back, the bolt passes into the corresponding groove 70 and recess m of the fixed shaft I, and the parts are then in position for operation with a change of speed proportioned to the relative proportions of the two gears of the pair with which the intermediate gear has been newly brought into mesh.

It is to be understood that, if desired, one pair of gears of the pedal-shaft and countershaft may consist of gears of the same diameters without departing from myinvention.

It will be noticed that the described arrangement of the connecting-rods H with the right-angled cranks F of the driving-axle and the correspondingly-right-angled cranks D of the propelling or counter shaft F avoids the possibility of dead-points in the rotation of the driving-axle, and consequently in the driving-wheel of the apparatus, and at the same time provides a positive movement in the transmission of power from the pedalshaft to the driving-axle.

What I claim as my invention is I l. The combination with a frame a bracket provided to said frame, adriving-axle, aconnter-shaft carrying spur-gears of different diameters, a pedal-shaft carrying corresponding spur-gears in reversed order, means for transmitting mot-ion from the counter-shaft to the driving-axle, an intermediate spurgear, a hanger for suspending the intermediate gear, a transverse shaft supported from the bracket and serving to suspend the hanger, and means for securing the hanger at predetermined points along the bracket-shaft, the whole arranged to provide for the transfer of the intermediate gear from one pair of'gears to another and for its retention in place when adjusted, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination with a frame, a drivingaxle having right-angled cranks, a countershaft similarly provided with right-angled cranks and carrying thus gears of different diameters, and rods connecting the cranks of the counter-shaft with those of the axle, with a pedal-shaft provided with corresponding spur-gears in reversed order, a bracket supported by the frame and having a transverse shaft, a hanger pendent from the transverse shaft of the bracket, a spur-gear carried at the lower end of the hanger and intermediate between the gears of pedal and counter shafts, and means for adjusting and securing the upper end of the hanger along the bracket-shaft, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The combination with a frame, a drivingaxle, a counter-shaft carrying spur-gears of different diameters, means for transmitting motion from the counter-shaft to the axle,a pedal-shaft carrying spur-gears corresponding to those of the axle but in reversed order, a spur-gear intermediate of those of the pedalshaft and the counter-shaftand a hanger which carries the intermediate gear at its lower end, of a fixed bracket which carries a transverse bracket-shaft, mechanism for lowering and raising the hanger to bring the intermediate gear away from and towardthe other gears, and mechanism for securing the upper end of the hanger at different points along the bracket-shaft, substantially as and for the purpose herein set'forth.

t. The combination with a frame, a drivingaxle, a counter-shaft carrying spur-gears of different diameters, means for transmitting motion from the counter-shaft to the axle, a pedal-shaft carrying spur-gears corresponding to those of the counter-shaft but in reversed order, a spur-gear intermediate of the gears of the counter-shaft and those of the pedal-shaft, and a hanger which carries the intermediategear at its lower end, of a fixed bracket having a transverse bracket-shaft which is constructed with circumferential grooves and with recesses below the bottoms of said grooves, and a means provided at the upper end of the hanger to hold in the said recesses andgrooves to retain the hanger at predetermined points along the bracket-shaft, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

5. The combination witha frame, adr'ivingaxle, a counter-shaft carrying spurgears of different diameters, means for transmitting motion from the counter-shaft to the axle, a pedal-shaft operating spur-gears corresponding to those of the counter-shaft but in reverse order, a spur-gearintermediate between those of the counter-shaft and those operated by the pedal-shaft, and a hanger which carries the intermediate gear, of a fixed bracket having a transverse bracket-shaft, means for shifting the hanger along and locking it to the bracket-shaft and an eccentric placed on the bracket-shaft and arranged to raise and lower the hanger, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

6. The combination with a frame, a drivingaxle, a counter-shaft carrying spur-gears of different diameters, means for transmitting motion from the counter-shaft to the axle, a

pedal-shaft operating spur-gearscorrespondand a sliding catch placed in a slot or guide of the eccentric and in relation with the grooves of the bracket-shaft to hold the eccentric at predetermined points along the latter substantiallyas and for the purpose herein set forth.

7. The combination with a frame, a drivingaxle, a counter-shaft carrying spur-gears of different diameters, means for transmitting motion from the counter-shaft to the axle, a pedal-shaft operating spur-gears corresponding to those of the counter-shaft but in reverse order, a spur-gear intermediate between the gears of the counter-shaft and those operated by the pedal-shaft, and a hanger which carries the intermediate gear, of a transverse bracket-shaft constructed with recesses along pedal-shaft operating spur-gears corresponding to those of the counter-shaft but in reverse order, aspur-gear intermediate between the gears of the counter-shaft and those operated by the pedal-shaft, and ahanger which carries the intermediate gear, of a transverse bracket-shaft constructed with circu mt'erential grooves and with recesses in the bottom of said grooves, an eccentric mounted upon the bracket-shaft and arranged to suspend and to raise and lower the intermediate gear, and a sliding catch placed in aslot or guide in the eccentric, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

9 The combination with aframe, a drivingaxle, a counter-shaft carrying spur-gears of different diameters, means for transmitting motion from the counter-shaft tothe axle, a pedal-shaft operating spur-gears corresponding to those of the counter-shaft but in reverse order, a spur-gear intermediate between the gears of the counter-shaft and those op-' erated by the pedal-shaft, and a hanger which carries the intermediate gear, of a transverse bracket-shaft constructed with circumferential grooves and with recesses in the bottom of said grooves, an eccentric mounted upon the bracket-shaft and arranged to suspend and to raise and lower the intermediate gear, asliding catch placed in a slot or guide in the eccentric, and a spring provided to press the catch into the groove and recesses, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set verse order, a sp ur-gear intermediate between i the gears of the counter-shaft and those operated by the pedal-shaft, and a hanger which carries the intermediate gear, of a transverse bracket-shaft, an eccentric mounted upon the bracket shaft and provided with an arm whereby it may be turned on the bracketshaft, a sliding catch placed in a slot or guide in the eccentric and means for withdrawing said slide from its hold on the bracket-shaft,

substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

THOMAS S. DAVIS.

\Vitnesses: WILLIAM A. SCOTT, CHARLES KIRKPATRICK. 

